AUSTRIA Holdings are an offshore investment portfolio company that specialise in taking over failing businesses, and they see Keighley Cougars as the perfect challenge for them.

They are now the major shareholders at the club, and representative Shane Spencer confirmed their grand plans, all while maintaining the previous board and club staff.

Speaking to the Keighley News, he said: "We want to form an academy and a good youth structure. That includes a girls team to go alongside our ladies outfit.

"We'll be going to schools and promoting the club, which goes from the tots at Cougar Cubs through the first-team squad. We want to be a community-based club."

Talking about making Cougars the "hub of the community", Spencer said: "We're not just a rugby league team, and we need to diversify.

"It was great when we held a screening of an England World Cup match here but we can make this venue work for hosting festivals and events.

"It's great that Steeton AFC use this as their home ground now but I'd like to see more junior sides down here too. All of this will help make the business sustainable."

Meanwhile, new general manager Steve Gill hopes to use his previous experiences at Castleford Tigers to help him in the role.

He said: "I had some great people alongside me there and it was a great team effort, which is what I intend to build here, a group of people who can take us forward.

"I'm passing my experiences on, the good and the bad. Hopefully, we can go from that."

Gill was determined to accept this new challenge and he declared there is no set time frame on his stay at Cougar Park.

He said: "As long as I'm enjoying it and moving forward, I'll take it as it comes. The drive from Castleford to Keighley isn't ideal but I can get plenty of work done from home too.

"Ultimately, though, the more I'm here, the more I fall in love with the club, the fans and the volunteers.

"Once we're happy with everything at the club, I'll make a decision about retirement. But I'm still enjoying it and the sparkle is back."

*Austria Holdings describe themselves on their website as "a global investment holding company with interests, subsidiaries, portfolio companies and investments ranging from asset management, wealth management, private equity, venture capital, trade finance, mining and natural resources and agricultural investments."

?They state they have "a diverse portfolio of companies and subsidiaries operating across 11 countries and a proven track record which is constantly recognised by independent bodies."

They also state that they "pride themselves on their culture of integrity, innovation, vision, and value creation that works with only the best third party service providers to maintain the high levels they feel are vital to growth and prosperity."